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Drug‐induced hyposalivation has only been anecdotally related to various subjective and objective oral problems. The study described here of 157 residents of a long‐term care facility reports data on whole masticatory‐stimulated salivary flow rates, use of medications, and perceptions of symptoms associated with hyposalivation, including mouth and eye dryness, tooth sensitivity, chewing satisfaction, and taste and smell acuity.One hundred and twelve residents (71%) were taking one or more drugs that induced hyposalivation. Salivary flow rates were lower in persons who were taking such drugs, and lowest in persons who were taking such drugs for a protracted period. Flow was also lower in females than males, and lower in persons institutionalized for long periods than in persons institutionalized for short periods. Persons who were taking drugs that induce hyposalivation were institutionalized longer, used more medications, had more health problems, were dissatisfied with chewing, and had fewer teeth than persons who were not taking such drugs. Persons who reported having mouth dryness also reported eye dryness and were dissatisfied with their chewing ability. Perceived mouth dryness was not related to salivary flow.SummaryPrevalence of hyposalivatory drug use in a long‐term care facility is described. Several important independent variables, including gender, length of residency, number of nonhyposalivatory drugs used, and number of major health problems have been linked to reduced salivary flow, use of hyposalivatory drugs, and perception of mouth dry ness. Reduced salivary flow, use of hyposalivatory drugs, and perceived mouth dry‐ness have, in turn, been linked to symptoms that are commonly associated with hyposalivation, including perceived loss of smell, few teeth, dissatisfaction with chewing, and perceived eye dryness. Data indicate that reports of mouth dryness become more frequent and more severe with the number of hyposalivatory drugs used. Mean salivary flow rates declined as numbers of hyposalivatory drugs taken and period of use increased. Salivary flow rates were not found to be related to perceived mouth dryness.

SUMMARYA reliable method has been developed to describe dentists' verbal communication leads using closed circuit television. The purpose of this investigation was to compare these leads during the greeting and initial discussion portion of an initial dental interview for ten dentists with 20 patients older than 65 years. Leads were categorized as controlling, noncontrolling, or neutral.A controlling lead was defined as a lead that allowed the dentist to exert authority in a controlling manner. The most frequently used leads in this category were closed‐ended questions and structuring. Leads were categorized as noncontrolling if the lead allowed patients to express themselves (acceptance, approval, clarification, interpretation, and open‐ended question). Examples of frequently observed neutral leads included small talk and information giving.The frequency of noncontrolling, neutral, and controlling leads was 28%, 40%, and 32%, respectively. Correlations between these three categories were weak and indicated that they were measuring different qualities of the communication process.When the three categories of leads were analyzed by doctors and patients' gender, the mean numbers of leads were similar, although male dentists tended to be more controlling with male patients and less controlling with female patients. These differences were not statistically significant using the analysis of variance.The authors thank Mr. David Skeels and Ms. Diane Gladstone for scoring the verbal behaviors and all related activities, and Dr. Gerald Gladstein. PhD. for consultative behavior definition and analysis.A complete list with a description and examples is available from the authors on request.The informed consent of all subjects who participated in the study was obtained after the nature of the procedure and possible discomforts and risks had been fully explained.